Reviews of Ongava Tented Camp
(92%) From 142 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Ongava Tented Camp
Ongava Tented Camp has a lovely traditional feel with comfortable tents and wonderful views over the busy waterhole.
We spent all but one of our drives in Ongava's private reserve to avoid the big roads and busy waterholes of Etosha. The wildlife in Ongava was plentiful and varied with fantastic sightings of White Rhino with young, including a baby only days old.
We had to drive away quickly from an angry Black Rhino and spent time with 3 prides of lions.
It was interesting to see lots of birds for the only time on the trip including several Kori Bustard.
Ongava Tented Camp review
Overall a very enjoyable visit, with some exciting drives and overall very high quality tents.
Highlights: walking up to three rhinos and having the waterhole visited late in the evening by a black rhino!
Comment: my wife very much disliked the use of margarine in various dishes - surely, butter is better!
Ongava Tented Camp
Excellent guiding by Michael, he made every effort to ensure the game drives were most enjoyable and interesting.
I paticularly liked tracking the white Rhinos on foot. The sightings everyday were plentiful.
The waterhole in front of the camp is entertaining all day (and even at night with Rhinos coming to drink).
Ongava Reserve has a lot to offer but the camp itself in my opinion could improve on their level of attention to details. I would have much preferred a verbal "knock knock" than a phone call for wake up. I found the management service level and attitude rather impersonal.
Ongava Tented Camp review
Our first game drive was into Etosha and the second one was on the reserve. We preferred the reserve drives because animals were not surrounded by cars.
On the reserve we saw lions and white rhino which were spectacular. Again, we could walk a short distance to the rhino, which is not possible in Etosha.
On the best waterholes, with regular visitors, including rhino!
Another amazing wildlife encounter at Ongava
Our stay here was most memorable. On our afternoon safari we headed off into the bush and saw several giraffes, then proceeded to a spot where a pride of lions had killed a giraffe. Three of them had obviously had their fill and were lolling around, while the other 5, including twin cubs, where supping on the giraffe. As the lions were gainfully occupied we were able to get quite close to them to observe them.
Off we set for our sundowner, and then a bush dinner to watch the eclipse. As we arrived in the dark, at the location for our dinner, we were immediately struck by the effort staff had gone to to set up tables with white cloths, wine glasses, candles, warming fires, and yet more candles in paper bags to circle the dinner site, and we thought wow. Then the lights of our safari vehicle highlighted the two lions sitting on the banks of the dinner arena watching the proceedings! We had a short delay while staff shooed the lions away - we hoped. Next day we found out that there were actually 12 lions and of course the staff were keeping a very close eye on those lions.
Next morning our drive seemed quite mundane in comparison as we 'only' saw white rhinoceros and a few giraffes! Unfortunately we missed out on the opportunity to walk with the rhinoceros.
It is great when the guide, as our guide did here, talk to you, only when they have stopped the vehicle.
Our welcome here was warm and as we had had lunch we were offered a fruit platter. We can't remember breakfast as we were too busy watching the animals around the waterhole.
Good wildlife viewing here
Good area for wildlife, particularly around the camp waterhole. Enjoyable camp environment.
Read more about the whole safariExcellent!
This is a very intimate, quiet camp where all the tents and the main eating area look out on a water hole. The water hole provides an endless supply of animals who come to drink -- all kids of anteopes (oryx, red hartebeast, kudu, eland, Springok, waterbuck, black-faced impala came by. At dawn hundreds of silly Guinea Fowl show up. It's too much fun watching the animals directly from the deck.
One interesting thing about this camp is that you can't leave the walkways, and you can't walk from building to building at night unescorted because there's no fence. The animals are right there. For our excursion we went out and found a bunch of lions who had killed a giraffe and were eating it. We got very close to some very bloody looking lions. We met a mother white rhino and baby at a waterhole. That night a whole family of rhinos came to the waterhole and splashed around while we were eating dinner, looking like pale ghosts in the moonlight.
The next morning we went to Etosha. We saw huge masses of zebras, gnu and antelopes politely taking turns one species at a time at the waterholes, Huge bull elephants slowly approached like some huge container ship and splashed into the waterhole for a drink, all the other animals giving them a wide berth. In camp a funny fat hyrax munched on leaves in a tree, and the Monteiro's hornbills came to our table again. Way fun! Our tent was comfortable -- but it is a tent, it gets cool at night in winter, although they do put a hot water bottle in the tent which sure helps. It was fun chatting with other guests. Our guide was great.
Wonderful luxury tented camp
We stayed 2 nights here. Upon check-in, when we had been at the lodge for 5 minutes, we saw 3 elephants & zebra at the waterhole in front of the lodge.
Nothing was too much trouble for the staff & service was impeccable. Our room was pretty far from the waterhole, so they immediately switched us to the one closest to the waterhole.
There were only 1 or 2 other parties the day we checked in, so we inquired on whether we could have a jeep to ourselves for the first game drive & they asked if we wanted our own jeep, the next day as well, even though the camp was full the next day.
I fully expected to be charged extra, but they didn't, so we made sure to tip our guide Michael as if he had a full jeep both days. And Michael was amazing! We saw lions eating a giraffe within 10 minutes on our first drive & got to approach 3 rhinos on foot, maybe w/in 10 meters or so. Plus so many other sightings! The tent was very comfortable & we had a lovely time at Ongava.
A super camp
The second of the camps we stayed in. Extremely comfortable camp with good food, excellent accommodation. All the staff were very friendly. Our guide Bono was very knowledgeable - and found white rhino for us to see. Drinking a Sundowner G&T with rhinos is something not be forgotten. Paska the Ongava manager was extremely helpful and welcoming.
The camp's waterhole is a big bonus. At breakfast we had three elephants walk across the waterhole and come very close to the camp, great fun. We flew in from the previous camp - which saves a lot of time.
Trips into Etosha National Park were good, however there are insufficient fenced off stopping places there for a coffee stop. Where we stopped had lots of rubbish piled up as well, probably because they want you to go to the main restaurant facilities.
Thoroughly recommend Ongava camp.
